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Community Newsletter: Q&A: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi?
- 7/24/08 12:04 AM
HTTPS and vtunnel.com
by ÆL - 7/19/08 6:55 AM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Make sure your using https to login to gmail and yahoo (you can get to it by making sure you sign in on https://mail.google.com or https://mail.yahoo.com)
Also when browsing uses a site such as https://vtunnel.com it it hides what your typing by using a secure connection.
Also to log in from home you might want to try Hamachi a VPN server that you install on both your Windows home PC and your Linux, Mac or Windows Road PC. it provides a tunneled network to your home PC network allowing you to securely and easily access your shared printers and servers on the road.
Hope that helps!
AEL
Wi-Fi is no less safe than any other connection
by RVChris - 7/19/08 7:04 AM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I can't comprehend why anyone who understands the technology would say that Wi-Fi is less safe than any other means of connecting to the Internet. Any connection to the Internet makes you vulnerable to safety concerns. In a way, Wi-Fi is more secure than wired connections because you're behind a router - on a private network.
Let's take the specific safety concerns one at a time.
1. Getting infected with viruses/spyware:
Any connection to the Internet makes you susceptible to viruses and spyware. You need to be informed about what not to click on. You need an anti-virus program, anti-spyware program and a firewall. Blaming a Wi-Fi connection for your infection is like blaming the on-ramp for an accident you have on the freeway.
2. Having your keystrokes be 'seen' by bad guys:
The data that you type, or the links you click on, while connected to the Internet pass thru many different connections. Such as this message I'm typing right now. I'm connected to the Internet, wirelessly, to my own WEP encrypted network. So, it's secure (unreadable) from my computer to my router. But that's just the first 'hop' that this data is taking. As soon as it leaves my router, it takes many more 'hops' before it reaches CNET (you can see these by doing a traceroute.) It's called the INTERnet remember?! Just because the first network it passes thru is secure does NOT mean it's secure for the entire trip. You should not expect privacy for data transmissions such as email. It's like writing on the back of a postcard.
3. Doing your banking online:
If you are connected to a legitimate bank's website it is secured with SSL (the S in httpS.) This means that, while you're connected to that website, anything you type is encrypted (scrambled into code) from your keyboard, thru the air on the local wireless network, thru all the hops in the public Internet, to the bank's website, AND all the way back. To my knowledge this encryption has never been compromised.
So, even if the bad guy was sniffing the air right next to you in an unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspot, all he would get is gibberish. Undecipherable encrypted data.
Unauthorized use of your bank account is much more likely to happen by someone getting hold of a check with your account number, name and address on it. Or giving your credit card to a dishonest waitress who makes a copy. Your best protection is to keep a close watch on all transactions. How? By logging into your bank account online!
4. Someone accessing files on your computer:
When you use a Wi-Fi hotspot you are connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN.) The original purpose of networks was to share files and printers. So, yes, it is possible that someone connected to the same WLAN could see files on your computer. To be on the same WLAN, they would have to physically at the same hotspot as you - that means very close. And, even then, ONLY IF they are also on the same Workgroup AND you have files in shared folders on your computer. Why do you have shared folders if you don't want to share it?
All you have to do to completely prevent this is turn off file and printer sharing on your wireless connection. (for XP: Control Panel / Networks / Right-click on the Wireless connection and choose properties / uncheck File and Printer sharing.) Windows Vista handles this setting for you if you specify that you're on a Public Wireless Network.
And, here's where you're actually better off on Wi-Fi than on a wired connection. On a DSL, Cable or other wired connection you are actually connected to the public Internet, you have a public IP address, and are potentially open to attacks from hackers anywhere in the world. On a Wi-Fi hotspot, you are not connected to the Internet. You are just connected to the Wireless Network - you have a private IP address. It's the WLAN, the router, that is connected to the Internet with a public IP address. You are sharing that connection. No one on the public Internet can see your computer, no way, no how. So the only possible danger is from others on the same network ... nearby.
My work for the last few years has involved traveling around the country in our motorhome and supporting Wi-Fi in RV parks. I've learned a LOT. And, I have no problem using unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots for whatever I need to do on the Internet. I know that my computer is up-to-date, clean and safe, and I know how to recognize things I shouldn't click on.
Chris Guld
www.GeeksOnTour.com
Use Broadband
by j-leec - 7/19/08 7:39 AM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have to agree with the use of broadband. It's much easier to me. I happen to have a phone that tethers broadband for me and I can either use my usb cable or bluetooth to connect to my laptop. I recently traveled on a barge cruise down the Ohio River for 7 days and it proved to be great. Granted, there were some dead zones on the river, but for the most part, I had no problems. I noticed the barge's employees used broadband on their personal laptops as well. They loved it. My wireless company does not require a long term agreement to use broadband, so I simply call and tell them I want to use it and when I'm done I call and tell them to turn it off. The first charge on your wireless bill will be exuberant but they will then pro-rate it to your actual days of usage (it turns out to be about $2/day). YOU HAVE TO CALL AND HAVE THEM TURN IT OFF, or they will continue to bill you, legally and you may have to call and remind them to adjust the bill back down to your actual days of usage, but the ease of use is certainly worth the extra phone calls. If your phone does not tether, I would consider getting one of their broadband modems (usb is nice and small) and call as needed to turn on and off. (I use Verizon and have never had a billing problem regarding this) I haven even called during emergency at church and had broadband on my phone within 5 minutes for use at my church computer, and turned it off a few days later.
Hope this helps.
Tethering
by Tennisyoda - 7/19/08 4:09 PM In reply to: Use Broadband by j-leecWhat is tethering ? I mean, I understand the concept.......but what really is it ??
Thanks.
Keep reading...
by R. Proffitt - 7/19/08 4:15 PM
In reply to: Tethering by Tennisyoda
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/usingyourphone/f/tethering.htm
I can't tell which definition you are looking for.
Wi-Fi is Great But there is Another Answer
by tbrengel - 7/19/08 10:43 AM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have used Wi-Fi many times, but sometimes there is a daily connection fee in addition to the security issues. Now I subscribe to cellular broadband from Verizon (I think all carriers offer something similar). The modem, which plugs into a USB port, was free ($50 cost--$50 rebate) and the cost of unlimited access is about $60 per month.
The real beauty of this service is that almost anywhere you can get a cell phone connection, you can also get a broadband connection; there is no need to search for a Wi-Fi hot spot. I even used mine for an hour or so an an airplane while we were help on the runway for weather problems.
This clearly isn't for everyone. It's a little pricey, but it is much more secure than Wi-Fi and the freedom it gives you is awesome. Incidentally, I typically get 2 megabits per second download speed.
hmmm,.... safe? no such thing as safe...
by strongwinds - 7/19/08 11:13 AM In reply to: Wi-Fi is Great But there is Another Answer by tbrengelafter going through several ethical hacker courses, I'd say use WiFi at your own risk. chances are that its unlikely that you'd get "hacked" using WiFi, but having anti-virus's, anti-spyware etc, only protects you form one kind of attack, (system compromising)(most of the time) but if you happened to get on a "rogue" network there's not much you can do,... except have a good firewall, and pray. also even though the WiFi, may be secured, encryption is easily broken quite often,..... to wrap it up, be careful use common sense, (don't join network's called, HACKER, OWNED etc) and hope for the best!
reply to Watzman's response
by jhouser - 7/19/08 1:29 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm using XP Pro. I don't remember how to access your first two points. I've seen it hundreds of times . . .
1. Make sure you have NO shared folders on your hard drive
2. [Optional] Disable or remove the "printer and file sharing" service entirely. This is the ultimate but perhaps extreme answer to point 1., above.
Thank you.
Part of the Internet!
by alexanderpas - 7/19/08 4:32 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
These are the base-rules:
Do:
- ... Take the same precautions as if you would take when using any other unprotected connection connected directly to the public internet.
- ... Disable any safe-zone's in your firewall!
Don't:
- ... Do anything that might be dangerous when you're normally connected to the internet
- ... Trust the protection of the Public Access Point
Considelated:
- Use Sensibility
- Consider a Public Acces Point as part of the internet!
- Anything in the air is readable.
Roboform and JiWire
by mholmes - 7/19/08 9:08 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You might also consider using a program such as Roboform (www.roboform.com) which gets around the issues of you typing in passwords and having a keylogger steal those. You don't type anything in with Roboform. Naturally, firewalls, virus programs are necessary as well.
Mark
Defensive computing at a hacker conference
by mhinnewyork - 7/19/08 10:09 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For advice see my CNET blog posting:
Defensive computing at a hacker conference
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13554_3-9995021-33.html
Some important points: Ethernet is just as dangerous as Wi-Fi, a VPN is your best friend and turn off the Wi-Fi radio when not using it.
Michael Horowitz
AirCard may be the best solution
by rlpun - 7/21/08 10:52 AM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
As some folks have already stated, an AirCard from a Wireless carrier is probably the best way to go for your purposes. On a roadtrip, you are not going to always have access to Hotels, Coffee Shops, or other typical locales supporting WiFi. An AirCard will give you coverage typically wherever you have cell phone coverage. I used to work for Sprint and we offered a website (www.sprint.com/coverage) where you can get a footprint of coverage down to the street-level. Additonally, the connection is much more secure than WiFi and does support VPN.
The one downside is that most, if not all major carriers require a two-year contract (at $60/mo) in order to get the AirCard at the discounted price. It's a high price to pay, but if you typically need internet access for business or play more than 6-7 times a month, the ROI is there.
When choosing a carrier, I would go with Verizon or Sprint. They have built out their 3G EV-DO network and have been running it for the past two years. AT&T's 3G network is about a year behind.
Good Luck!
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